Anti-bullying performance features a new song commissioned by Hancher
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Written by: Rob Cline
Image from It Gets Better
A scene from It Gets Better. Photo courtesy of It Gets Better.

The University of Iowa’s Hancher will present It Gets Better, an anti-bullying production based on the video project of the same name, on Friday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Iowa Memorial Union Main Lounge on the UI campus.

It Gets Better provides a performing arts response to the issue of bullying, particularly among young adults and adolescents.

Featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA), the show is written and directed by Liesel Reinhart of Speak Theater Arts, which is collaborating with the It Gets Better Project and the GMCLA to produce the work.

The show will include popular songs and It Gets Better videos, as well as a new song commissioned by Hancher and written by Jeff Marx, creator of the Broadway musical Avenue Q. In addition, a choir of local singers will join six members of the GMCLA on stage.

The show will include a new song commissioned by Hancher and written by Jeff Marx, creator of Avenue Q. In addition, a choir of local singers will join six members of the GMCLA on stage.

The performance is officially affiliated with the It Gets Better movement that was founded in 2010 by columnist and author Dan Savage. It has spurred thousands of YouTube videos—produced by everyone from ordinary individuals to top celebrities, politicians, and companies—meant to inspire hope for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth facing harassment.

A series of related events

In conjunction with It Gets Better, several related events are scheduled, organized by the UI College of Education's Teacher Leader Center. For more information or special accommodations to attend any of the related activities organized by the Teacher Leader Center, contact Will Coghill-Behrendsat 319-335-5349 or william-behrends@uiowa.edu. They include:

Monday, Oct. 15, 4-6 p.m. for members of high school and college gay-straight alliances (This is not open to the general public.)

  • Statewide Gay Straight Alliance meeting for high school and college students, Teacher Leader Center (N140 Lindquist Center) on the UI campus

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 7-9 p.m., free and open to the public.

  • Community performance and panel discussion, West High School Little Theatre

Thursday, Oct. 18, 1-4 p.m., free and open to the public.

  • Anti-bullying Training Session, Teacher Leader Center (N140 Lindquist Center) on the UI campus.

Support for the project

It Gets Better is supported by an anonymous family foundation and the Hancher Partners, as well as by the Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest, which is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from the Iowa Arts Council.

How to get tickets

Tickets for It Gets Better are $35 for nonstudents; $10 for college students; $31.50 for senior citizens; and $10 for youth. Tickets are available from the Hancher Box Office, located on the first floor of the south end of the Old Capitol Mall near the parking ramp. The Hancher Box Office is open for phone (319-335-1160 or 800-HANCHER) or walk-up business from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays. Tickets may be ordered online at www.hancher.uiowa.edu. Any remaining tickets will be available for sale one hour before show time at the IMU Main Lounge. For more information or accommodations to attend, contact Hancher 319-335-1160.

For more information and the history of the It Gets Better project, visit youtu.be/xb9GpamAbTg.

Two related stories: College of Education takes on bullying; and Stopping the bully.